National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) is a left-of-center advocacy group supporting farmers and migrant workers. NFWM arose from Migrant Ministry farm-laborer organizing groups and the United Farm Workers labor union movement and advocates for worker equity, endorses boycotts, and stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. National Farm Worker Ministry advocates only buying food certified by organizations it supports. Its member organizations consist of national churches; it is exempt from making nonprofit IRS reports due to its status as a church.

History

The National Farm Worker Ministry was unofficially founded in the 1920s as the Migrant Ministry to fight poverty in the Southeastern United States. ¹ By 1939, the organization had established worker’s rights programs in 15 states. ² In the 1960s, California migrant groups began worker strikes organized by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, and the union partnered with Migrant Ministry to form a national religious-oriented farmworkers’ organization. ³

In 1971, the Migrant Ministry groups across the country formed the current organization named the National Farm Worker Ministry with a mission to assist farm workers to organize. ⁴ In the mid-2000s, the Youth and Young Adult Network was formed to assist younger workers and connect them to the organizing network. ⁵ This effort was disbanded in 2019. ⁶

Policies

The National Farm Worker Ministry states its commitment to social, racial, and economic justice for farm workers. ⁷ NFWM seeks to work toward dismantling white privilege and supremacy and resist all unjust relationships and systems of oppression. ⁸ The National Farm Worker Ministry has issued a statement in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, calling on workers to connect with BLM. ⁹

Programs

National Farm Worker Ministry has endorsed boycotting Wendy’s due to the restaurant chain importing tomatoes from Mexico instead of buying Florida tomatoes. ¹⁰ In March 2023, NFWM and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers marched on the Florida home of the Wendy’s CEO to protest. ¹¹

NFWM has advocated boycotting Reynolds VUSE e-cigarettes until the company recognizes collective bargaining with its workers. ¹² Additionally, NFWM has called for demonstrations at convenience stores to attempt to pressure retailers to no longer sell these products. ¹³

National Farm Worker Ministry advocates that consumers only buy agricultural products that have been certified by the Agricultural Justice Project, Equitable Foods Initiative, Fair Food Program, or Milk with Dignity. ¹⁴ NFWM has advocated for liberal expansionist immigration policies that could include programs such a path to citizenship with immediate green cards for presently illegal immigrants with no E-verify requirement to check workers’ legal authorization to work in the U.S. It also advocates for left-wing employment policies including grievance policies and boards, transportation reimbursement and housing for migrant workers, and stronger oversight of farm labor contractors. ¹⁵

Member Organizations

Members of the National Farm Worker Ministry include Alliance of Baptists, California Church Impact, Catholic Labor Network, Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network, Christian Church – Disciples of Christ, Church of the Brethren, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Society of the Sacred Heart, United Church of Christ Justice Ministries, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, and United Methodist Women Ministries. ¹⁶

Finances

National Farm Worker Ministry was originally granted nonprofit status in 1973. It is exempt from filing tax forms with the IRS due to its church status. ¹⁷

Leadership

Julie Taylor has been the executive director at National Farm Worker Ministry since 2015. ¹⁸ Previously, Taylor was a child, youth, and family advocate for United Methodist Women and attended her first board meeting at NFWM as a representative for United Methodist Women in 2010. ¹⁹ Taylor has a bachelor’s degree from Asbury University in Christian Education. ²⁰

1. “Our History.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/our-history/.
2. “Our History.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/our-history/.
3. “Our History.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/our-history/
4. “Our History.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/our-history/.
5. “Our History.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/our-history/.
6. “Our History.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/our-history/.
7. “Our Mission.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/mission-statement-core-values/.
8. “Our Core Values.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/mission-statement-core-values/.
9. “A Statement in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter.” National Farm Worker Ministry. June 29, 2020. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/news/a-statement-in-solidarity-with-black-lives-matter/.
10. “Wendy’s Boycott.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://nfwm.org/take-action/farm-worker-campaigns/ciw-campaign-for-fair-food/.
11. “Marching to ‘Build A New World’ For Farm Workers.” National Farm Worker Ministry. March 28, 2023. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://nfwm.org/news/marching-to-build-a-new-world-for-farm-workers/.
12. “Boycott Reynolds VUSE E-Cigarettes.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://nfwm.org/take-action/farm-worker-campaigns/boycott-reynolds-american-vuse/.
13. “Boycott Reynolds VUSE E-Cigarettes.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://nfwm.org/take-action/farm-worker-campaigns/boycott-reynolds-american-vuse/.
14. “Shop Certified.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://nfwm.org/take-action/farm-worker-campaigns/shop-certified/.
15. “Immigration Reform.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://nfwm.org/take-action/farm-worker-campaigns/immigration-reform-2/.
16. ^[1] “A Statement in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter.” National Farm Worker Ministry. June 29, 2020. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/news/a-statement-in-solidarity-with-black-lives-matter/; “Member and Supporting Organizations.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/faith-based-partners/member-and-supporting-organizations/
17. “National Farm Worker Ministry.” ProPublica. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/952692880; “National Farm Worker Ministry.” Internal Revenue Service. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/; “National Farm Worker Ministry.” Candid Guidestar. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/95-2692880.
18. “Julie Taylor.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/offices/julie-taylor-2/.
19. ^[1] “Julie Taylor.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-taylor-28b713166/; “Julie Taylor.” National Farm Worker Ministry. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://nfwm.org/about/offices/julie-taylor-2/.
20. “Julie Taylor.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-taylor-28b713166/.